Nominal: The Handong Game, the Energy System's Counterattack

The office of the Director of the Public Security Bureau of Handong Province.

The sky outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was a somber gray, and the early winter wind, carrying a chill, lashed against the glass.

It emitted a dull sound, just like the restlessness and unease that Qi Tongwei was suppressing in his heart at this moment.

He spent the entire morning negotiating with the Jingzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau at the Provincial Procuratorate because of Cai Chenggong's problem.

Hou Liangping came to Handong. He was his junior from school, and Zhong Xiaoai was also behind him. He couldn't refuse to give him face.

Meanwhile, Zhao Donglai was using Li Dakang's name.

In his mind, Li Dakang's attitude was related to whether he could be promoted to vice-provincial level, so he dared not offend him.

Fortunately, the two sides eventually reached an agreement, and Cai Chenggong stayed in the provincial department for the time being, which relieved Qi Tongwei, who was caught in the middle.

His crisp police uniform accentuated his tall and straight figure, but it couldn't hide the weariness and worry etched between his brows.

The Standing Committee meeting should be over by now. I wonder if there's been any conclusion regarding my promotion to vice-provincial level.

I had just picked up my teacup to take a breather when there was a knock on the office door.

"Enter."

His liaison officer pushed open the door and entered, his posture upright, but his expression betrayed his panic.

He strode to his desk and reported in a low voice, "Director Qi, I just received news that Zhao Donglai, the director of the Jingzhou Public Security Bureau, has been taken away by the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection."

Qi Tongwei paused in his teacup, the tea sloshed around, and a few drops spilled onto the table.

When did this happen?

"Just now, after the provincial party committee standing committee meeting ended, at the meeting on the aftermath of the 116 incident in Jingzhou City, he was taken away directly by the discipline inspection commission."

"What's the reason?" Qi Tongwei's expression was extremely serious.

"It's said that Dafeng Factory illegally stored gasoline, and there was also mishandling of a mass incident, dereliction of duty, abuse of power, and cover-up. I don't know the specifics."

Qi Tongwei slowly put down his teacup, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.

Zhao Donglai, the director of the Jingzhou Public Security Bureau and a deputy director-level official, was taken away directly during the meeting?

This is very unusual.

According to procedure, taking organizational measures against a cadre of Zhao Donglai's level requires at least discussion by the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee.

Before taking any action, it is also necessary to report to the provincial department in advance and inform him, the top leader.

But he, the dignified Director of the Public Security Bureau of Handong Province, knew nothing about this!

There was no prior notice or warning, until Zhao Donglai was taken away.

He only learned about it from his subordinates now that it had happened.

The disciplinary committee acted so quickly; could it be today's Standing Committee meeting?

Qi Tongwei felt uneasy, wondering if something had happened at the Standing Committee meeting, but unfortunately, he had no source of information.

Who will replace Zhao Donglai?

"Deputy Director Luo was appointed temporarily by the Provincial Party Committee."

The liaison officer cautiously observed Qi Tongwei's darkening face.

Deputy Director Luo, Luo Junzhen.

Upon hearing this name, Qi Tongwei's expression turned very unpleasant.

After Zhou Chuyi took office, he did not immediately report on the work on behalf of the Provincial Public Security Department.

Unexpectedly, Luo Junzhen, who was in charge of public security and traffic management, has left. He is now temporarily serving as the director of the Jingzhou Public Security Bureau.

The key question is, how come Qi Tongwei, as the head of the provincial department, only found out now?

Qi Tongwei stood up and walked to the window.

From this angle, you can see the traffic flow at the entrance of the Provincial Public Security Bureau compound; several black sedans are slowly driving in.

The office fell into a deathly silence. The sound of the wind outside the window grew clearer, but it couldn't suppress the turbulent waves surging in Qi Tongwei's heart.

His fingertips unconsciously traced the marble of the windowsill, the coldness seeping from the marble onto his hands. A sense of crisis surged through him like a tide, instantly enveloping his entire body.

He and Zhao Donglai were never on the same page; in fact, they were outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds.

Zhao Donglai, with Li Dakang, a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, as his backer, often showed no respect to Li, the director of the Provincial Public Security Department.

He neither curries favor with their political and legal system nor listens to Qi Tongwei; he has always only followed Li Dakang's lead.

Qi Tongwei even tried more than once to find an opportunity to suppress and transfer Zhao Donglai, to remove this disobedient thorn in his side.

But personal grudges aside, and antagonism aside, Qi Tongwei never imagined that Zhao Donglai would fall from power in such a tragic and abrupt way.

Zhao Donglai has been deeply involved in the Jingzhou public security system for many years. He has a solid foundation and acts cautiously. Although he is not exactly shrewd and cunning, he rarely leaves any fatal flaws.

The key point is that he had a provincial party committee member as a backer, and he was taken down just like that?

Qi Tongwei's mind raced, and he instantly grasped the key point.

They were able to bypass the provincial department and the head of the public security bureau, and directly take detention measures against the director of the Jingzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau, a powerful deputy director-level official.

It must have been a decision made at the provincial party committee level, especially since it was implemented immediately after Sha Ruijin's first standing committee meeting.

This is not simply a matter of assigning blame for an isolated case; it could very well be the first major action taken by the new provincial party secretary, Sha Ruijin, upon arriving in Handong.

Otherwise, there is no way to explain this sudden and swift action.

What exactly happened at the Standing Committee meeting?

Qi Tongwei immediately reached for the landline phone on his desk, his fingertips trembling slightly, and skillfully dialed the number of his teacher, Gao Yuliang.

Now, the only person who can answer his questions and interpret the high-level trends is his teacher.

The phone rang several times before it was finally answered.

The voice that came through the receiver was not Gao Yuliang's calm and familiar voice, but the respectful and polite tone of his secretary, Xiao He.

"Director Qi."

"Xiao He, where's Secretary Yuliang? I need to speak with him urgently! It's very urgent!"

Qi Tongwei's tone was urgent, a stark contrast to his usual calm and composed demeanor, revealing obvious anxiety.

"Director Qi, I'm so sorry, Secretary Gao just finished a meeting of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee."

"I immediately convened a special closed-door meeting with Secretary Tian Guofu of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and relevant provincial leaders, without allowing anyone to disturb us."

"Secretary Gao specifically instructed before leaving that his schedule was full all day and he was afraid he wouldn't have time to see you."

Xiao He replied somewhat apologetically.

The provincial party committee standing committee had just finished its full meeting, and then immediately held a closed-door special meeting with the secretary of the discipline inspection commission, Tian Guofu?

Qi Tongwei's heart sank heavily. His already taut nerves were stretched to the limit, and the panic in his heart was magnified several times over.

Who is Tian Guofu? He is the top official in the provincial discipline inspection and supervision system, and the person that all officials least want to deal with.

The Standing Committee meeting had just concluded when the Secretary of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission immediately convened a closed-door meeting in conjunction with the Discipline Inspection Commission.

The message of this meeting couldn't be clearer—the new provincial party secretary's move is to investigate and rectify officials.

Zhao Donglai's surprise detention is definitely one of the first decisions made at this top-secret meeting!

"I understand," Qi Tongwei replied in a low voice, his tone frighteningly heavy. He didn't say another word and slowly hung up the phone.

The office fell silent again, the oppressive atmosphere making it hard to breathe.

Qi Tongwei sat in his large office chair, his eyes fixed on the desk, his mind a jumble of thoughts.

All the signals point to one conclusion: a major change is about to occur in Handong.

A super storm sweeping through the entire officialdom, especially the political and legal system, has quietly begun.

However, it seems that he, as the director of the provincial public security department, still cannot sort out his thoughts or see the situation clearly.

Like a rabbit being killed and its hunting dog cooked, Qi Tongwei sensed danger, but he didn't know where it came from.